[sarahliz]

I took a cna course in high school but I only worked for a few months after graduation. I planned on taking only a short amount of time from cna because I was working at a nursing home and trying to go to school to become a RN. Everything went crazy after that. I became pregnant with my first child a month or so after and was very sick (morning sickness 24/7). After she was born she had to go through multiple open heart surgeries and procedures that go along with that.....she has hypoplastic left heart syndrome. To make a long story short she is now turning 6 next week and my son is 10 months old.......I have only been in the work force for a few months since my daughter was born (mcdonalds).

I have been thinking about going back to work as a cna (hoping to avoid nursing homes some this time). Where do I start to get recertified? I know where a copy of my certificate is so I dont have to try to track that down. Or should I just take another course after all it has been over 6 years since I last worked as a cna......................

I would love any help......

[rninme]

Try the Board of Nursing in Augusta....they will probably be able to answer all your questions. Good luck!

[cathleenmermaid]

Dear Sarahliz:
I was a CNA for quite awhile, then because I felt overwhelmed with the nursing home scene, getting 20 residents in an hour up and into the breakfast room on time, getting written up not only for spending to much time with each resident but for not taking breaks, per law! I just wanted to help people and because I never smoked I feel that if I dont take a smoke break it should be up to me how I spend my break, anyways not to ramble on but Yes I wanted to get back into the profession because I love to help!! I am now in college to do my pre-regs for an RN degree. All you need
to do is call the CNA registry and send them 100$ and set up a time to retake your test and you can be back on the registry. I have a hard time just rereading my old book so looked into a free course offered by Maine Medical Center in Portand, and hope to retake the course maybe just long enough to pass the test, But I would love to work there!! My e-mail is not working well but if your truly interested write back in this thread and I will
respond in my private text. Good luck and God Bless
CathleenMermaid

[sarahliz]

I am still interested in getting my cna back. I did get a hold of the registry and it is about $100 to retake the test ... I just need to get some books from a family member to study for a while....I may call one of the local nursing homes to see if they can help me out...(yea I know I want to avoid the nursing homes....but that is the only thing around here)

I have heard of the free course at Maine Medical Center and I wish I lived closer to that hospital....someday I might move closer. I dont know what their working environment is but the way they are with patients is beyond words for me....that is where my daughter had her surgeries. I will be back down that way in a couple of weeks for a check up for her and she needs to have her adenoids out sometime which needs to be done at mmc.

[Jenny67]

Hi Sarahliz, not sure where you are located, but I have seen in the paper that Courtland nursing home located in Ellsworth offers free CNA course.